Retainer band and a valve using the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a retainer band and a valve using the retainer band. The retainer band comprises an annular ring, a gasket and a block member. The annular ring has two terminals, which are opposite to each other. The gasket is formed on a periphery of the annular ring and is perpendicular to the annular ring. In addition, the valve comprises a body, an outlet pipe and an adaptor connected the body and the outlet pipe. The annular ring is provided to install around the adaptor and the block member is provided to wedge in between the two terminals of the annular ring. Therefore, when the outlet pipe is mounted on the second connecting portion of the adaptor, an entry of the outlet pipe tightly covers the annular ring and the block member, and is pressed against the gasket.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a retainer band, in particular, aretainer band is provided for a rotating element to move smoothly andsecurely on an object, and prevents from the rotating element beingeasily extracted from the object. Substantially speaking, the object isa faucet, and the rotating element is an outlet pipe that rotates on thefaucet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 5 shows a conventional faucet assembly comprising a faucet body 1 cand an outlet pipe 10 c.

FIG. 6 discloses another conventional faucet assembly, which comprises afaucet body 1 c, an adaptor 10 b, two O-rings 11 b, an outlet pipe 12 b.The faucet body 1 b is for receiving water and controlling the waterflow, and the adaptor 10 b is to connect the faucet body 1 b to theoutlet pipe 12 b. The two O-rings 11 b with elasticity and larger outerdiameters can prevent the outlet pipe 12 b from being easily extracted,once the outlet pipe 12 b is inserted into the adaptor 10 b.

However, by only relying on the elastic expansion of the two O-rings 11b to prevent the extraction of the outlet pipe 12 b will not last forlong. Furthermore, the outlet pipe 12 b is constantly turned, and theabrasion enforced on the two O-rings 11 b will wear them out easily. Asa result, the two O-rings 11 b will no longer adhere to the inner sleeveof the outlet pipe 12 b. Thus, the outlet pipe 12 b will come offeasily.

In addition, to prevent the outlet pipe 12 b from coming off, the twoO-rings 11 b are tightly connected onto the inner wall of the outletpipe 12 b. This will keep the outlet pipe 12 b from turning smoothly,and thus turning the outlet pipe 12 b will become strenuous.

Moreover, when turning the outlet pipe 12 b, the entry of the outletpipe 12 b will scrape against a contact surface of the faucet body 1 b,and damage its outer appearance.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide aretainer band, which is made of plastic and comprises an annular ring,and a block member. Wherein the annular ring has two terminals, whichare opposite to each other. In addition, the block member is wedged inbetween the two terminals.

The present invention, briefly summarized, in one embodiment disclosesthe retainer band further comprising a gasket. The gasket is formed on aperiphery of the annular ring and perpendicular to the annular ring.This type of retainer band is to apply specifically to a valve, such asa faucet.

Among which, the valve includes a body, an outlet pipe, and an adaptorconnected the body and the outlet pipe. As a result of the annular ringbeing installed onto the adaptor, and the block member being wedged inbetween the two terminals of the annular ring, hence, as the outlet pipeis mounted on the adaptor, the entry of the outlet pipe is tightlyengaged with the annular ring and the block member and pressed againstthe gasket.

It is important to note that before wedging the block member in betweenthe two terminals, the annular ring is in an elastic and expandablestate. This indicates that an internal diameter of the annular ring canbe expanded, and thus, the annular ring enables to be easily installedonto the adaptor.

When the block member is wedged in between the two terminals, theinternal diameter of the annular ring is slightly expanded, and theexpanded internal diameter remains slightly expanded by the blockmember. This shows that an outer diameter of the retainer band isslightly stretched to allow the entry of the outlet pipe tightlycovering the retainer band to prevent extracting from the adaptor.

Most importantly, because the inner diameter of the retainer band isslightly expanded, the retainer band enables to move and turn smoothlyon the adaptor. Hence, the outlet pipe connected to the adaptor willalso enable to move and turn smoothly for the user's convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood after referring to thefollowing detailed description read in conjunction with the drawingswherein

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a retainer band of a second embodimentof present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional faucet; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another conventional faucet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, whichdiscloses a retainer band 2 made of plastic and a valve, such as afaucet, using the retainer band 2.

The valve, namely the faucet, comprises a body 1, an adaptor 10, tworubber rings and an outlet pipe 3. The body 1 is to receive water andcontrol the water flow. The adaptor 10 has a first connecting portion101 and a second connecting portion 102, and the first connectingportion 101 is connected to the body 1. The two rubber rings 11 arerespectively installed around the second connecting portion 102 of theadaptor 10, and the outlet pipe 2 is mounted on the second connectingportion 102 of the adaptor 10.

Furthermore, the retainer band 2 of FIG. 1 is installed around thesecond connecting portion 102 of the adaptor 10, near the firstconnecting portion 101 The retainer band 2 comprises an annular ring 20,a gasket 21 and a block member 22. The annular ring 20 has two terminals200 which are opposite to each other and a gap 20 a is formed in betweenthe two terminals 200. The gasket 21 is formed on a periphery of theannular ring 20 and perpendicular to the annular ring 20. The blockmember 22 is wedged in between the two terminals 200 of the annular ring20.

Accordingly, the annular ring 20 is adjustable elastically via the gap20 a. This shows that an internal diameter of the retainer band 2 can bestretched and expanded, and easily installed onto the second connectingportion 102 of the adaptor 10.

Moreover, by wedging the block member 22 in between the two terminals210, within the gap 20 a, will cause the internal diameter of theannular ring 20 to be slightly expanded and remain in the slightlyexpanded state. This shows that when the outer diameter of the retainerband 2 is slightly enlarged, an entry 30 of the outlet pipe 3 will, inthe state of mounting on the second connecting portion 102 of theadaptor 10 be tightly engaged with the annular ring 20 of the retainerband 2, and will not be easily extracted from the adaptor 10. Theabove-mentioned state is also disclosed in FIG. 2. Under thiscircumstance, the entry 30 of the outlet pipe 3 tightly covers theannular ring 20 and the block member 22, and is pressed against thegasket 21.

Because the inner diameter of the retainer band 2 is slightly expanded,thus enables it to move and turn smoothly on the adaptor 10. Hence, theoutlet pipe 3 installed to the adaptor 10 via the retainer band 2 willalso enables the outlet pipe 3 to move and turn smoothly for the user'sconvenience as shown in the FIG. 3. Furthermore, the internal diameterof the annular ring 20 is slightly expanded as the block member 22 iswedged within the gap 2 a of the annular ring 20 and thus forms a spacebetween the annular ring 2 and the adaptor 10. The space enables theretainer band 2 to turn smoothly on the adaptor 10.

It is also shown in FIG. 2 that the retainer band 2 is installed ontothe adaptor 10 is obstructed by a flange 31 formed on the adaptor 10.Moreover, the retainer band 2, in fact, traverses along with the outletpipe 3, so an outer wall of the retainer band 2 will not be worn out buttightly fitted to an inner wall of the entry 30 of the outlet pipe 3.Accordingly, even though the two rubber rings 11 are worn out, theoutlet pipe 3 can still traverse smoothly through the retainer band 2and will not be easily extracted from the adaptor 10.

In addition, with the protection of the annular ring 20 and the gasket21 of the retainer band 2, the entry 30 of the outlet pipe 3 will not bescraped by turning of the outlet pipe 3.

FIG. 4 shows another type of the retainer band 2 a as a secondembodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, a side ofthe block member 22 a of the retainer band 2 a is pivotally connected toone of the two terminals 200 a of the annular ring 200. For instance, inthe process of injection molding the retainer band 2 a, a side of theblock member 22 a is integrally formed pivotally on the terminal 200 aof the annular ring 200 similar to a burr formation process. This typeof the retainer band 2 a not only consists of the above-mentionedfunctions, it also keeps the block member 22 a from gone missing.

Additionally, each type of above-mentioned retainer bands can be appliedon other turning parts of a faucet. In a broad perspective, any rotatingelement that rotates on an object can use such a retainer band to permitdirect extraction from its connection by exerting a certain force or bya certain tool but will not be easily extracted, and enables therotating element to turn smoothly on the object.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been setforth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosedembodiments of the present invention as well as other embodimentsthereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appendedclaims are intended to cover all embodiments, which do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A retainer band comprising: an annular ring, having two terminals, inwhich the two terminals are opposite to each other; and a block member,wedged in between the two terminals.
 2. The retainer band of claim 1,further comprises a gasket formed on a periphery of the annular ring andbeing perpendicular to the annular ring.
 3. The retainer band of claim1, wherein a side of the block member is pivotally connected to one ofthe two terminals of the annular ring.
 4. A valve comprising: a body forreceiving water and controlling the water flow; an adaptor having afirst connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the firstconnecting portion being connected to the body; two rubber rings,respectively installed around the second connecting portion of theadaptor; a retainer band, installed around the second connecting portionof the adaptor, and near the first connecting portion; and an outletpipe, mounted on the second connecting portion of the adaptor; whereinthe retainer band comprises: an annular ring, having two terminals, inwhich the two terminals are opposite to each other; a gasket, formed ona periphery of the annular ring and being perpendicular to the annularring; and a block member, wedged in between the two terminals of theannular ring, when the outlet pipe is mounted on the second connectingportion of the adaptor, an entry of the outlet pipe tightly covers theannular ring and the block member, and is pressed against the gasket.